LOCHEE HARP v MONTROSE ROSELEA
McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION
SAT MARCH 24^th 2012

Roselea headed to Beechwood Park, Lochee to face Harp in their fourth last league game of the campaign. A win was a must to keep the pressure on leaders Violet who themselves had a tough game at home to North End, the only team to beat them so far. Roselea were minus the unavailable James Collier, Colin Kennedy & Ross Colquhoun and injury victim Callum Rae. Jack Rodger and Lee Hood continue their loan spells at other clubs.  

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte, Reoch, Webster, Mustard, Anderson, Urquhart, Fletcher & Aitken. Subs: Riach, Strachan, Brand & Craig. 

On a decent but overcast day in Dundee Roselea kicked off of the match on a surface that was slightly fiery. Roselea started the match in a lively fashion and had the first chance in 5 minutes when a right footed Paul Whyte strike hit the base of the post after he connected with an Aitken lay off. 

Harp struck back a minute later however Milnes snapshot was way off target then in 13 minutes Ramsay of the home side had a snap shot side volley which Mcleod had to make sure he held. 

Roselea had a good spell and a great Aitken head flick finds Urquhart and his driven ball finds no takers and when Webster returns it to the centre Mustard connects well however is goalbound effort is deflected behind by Fotheringham for a corner. 

Harp have the best chance so far when Williamson twists in the box and only a last ditch slide from Mcleod makes him blast his shot into the side netting. Harp were causing Roselea problems with their running off the ball and in 24 minutes they went behind thanks to this flaw. STARK made a run into the box finding himself in space and shot home from 15 yards. In 28 minutes the same problem cropped up as Williamson found himself in on Mcleod but screwed his shot well wide from the angle when he should have made Mcleod work. 

Roselea had a chance to pull even on the half hour mark when Aitken held the ball up and played it to Fletcher who had a great angled shot beaten out by Brown in the Harp goal. Roselea then have another chance on 34 minutes when Webster takes up a good position on the right hand side however yet again his shot is deflected for a corner. In 40 minutes an in swinging Webster corner is headed just behind at the far post by Mustard who was under pressure from a Harp defender. 

Half Time: Lochee Harp 1 Roselea 0

Roselea make a change at the start of the second half with Riach replacing the injured Fletcher. In a mirror image of the end of the first half Mustard is inches away from connecting with a Webster corner in 50 minutes. 

Harp had a chance to increase their lead in 53 minutes. Whyte had brought down Williamson just outside the box and when the free kick came over Fotheringham headed across goal and Taylor just failed to connect at the far post. 

Urquhart was unlucky to pick up a booking when he challenged fairly for the ball but was adjudged to have been reckless when he injured Kelly. 

Strachan replaced Webster in 60 minutes and was soon involved in the action. He swung in a cross from the left and although Riach missed the header he caused all sorts of problems for the home keeper who was happy to see it turned behind for a corner. 

In 66 minutes Roselea had a good chance when another Strachan cross was headed clear by Fotheringham to Aitken who chested the ball down and when his shot was deflected into the path of Whyte he couldn’t direct his shot on target. Two minutes later Whyte got his head to a Ryan Taylor free kick but was agonisingly just off target. 

Roselea had a great 20 minute spell in the second half but just couldn’t get the little break they deserved and were dealt a sucker punch in 80 minutes when Harp sub MULLEN broke on the right and finished well. 

Brand replaced Jo Aitken with 5 minutes remaining. The substitute paid off and BRAND did well to swivel in the box, losing his marker and shot home from a narrow angle. 

The last few minutes had Roselea frantically trying to salvage something from the game but Harp held firm. To frustrate Roselea further both Miller and Stark were both lucky to escape being dismissed for kicking out at Roselea players not that would have made much difference to the day. 

Full Time: Lochee Harp 2 Montrose Roselea 1

The result was disappointing and effectively kills Roselea’s challenge for the title with 3 games remaining. They have done well to hold on the shirt tails of Violet who had themselves earned a 1-1 draw with North End however they did not have enough in the tank to overcome a very stuffy Harp side.  

Roselea will continue with another trip on the road to Davie Park, Blairgowrie on Sat March 31^st. The match kicks off at 2.30pm